Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-10-15
PowDsRLY SPEAKS.
An Address tn which sac Plainly
shows where Rse stands.

MfSNkAPOLISs MIMI, Oct. o.-1ne nrst
hour of to-day's session Of the Knights of
Labor assembly was devoted to eulogies Of
the late Thomas Armstrong, of Pittsburg,
and discussion of proposals to.erect a monu-
ment. The committee on credentials re-
sumed business at 1880 Mrs. Marian
Todd, of Michigan, was refused admission,
as were also local assemblies 1924, S714,
S492, and 1908, which asked to be repre-
sented by C. ]. Driscoll, of Denver. The
ruling was they were only entitled to rep
resentation through their district. The
motion to reinstate district assembly 126
OF New York city, was ruled out of order.
Roll call showed 225 delegates present.
MR.. PowDERLY's ADDRESS
begins by asking careful consideration of
its Recommendations, etc, and he says in
part:
''when the last session of the general
assembly closed it dissolved amid the
clamor of disconnected men and the war;
ing of factions. 1t was large and un-
wieldy body, and from so many men who
were, up to that time. strangers to each
other, it was exacting too much to ask of
them to enact perfect legislation. This
body is smaller than its predecessor, and /
expect better things at its hands. We adj
journed year ago with dissension in our
own ranks. That dissension was enlarged
upon and scattered to the world by enemies
from within and from without. News of
discord reached the ears of employers of
labor, and they in many instances took
advantage of what they mistook fur our
weakness and rushed into conflict with our
members in various parts of the country.
THere a complete history of the famous
Chicago strikes of last year was given in
detail. The relation of the order to an
archy has taken up so much space
in public prints and been the sub
ject of so much discussion in
the assemblies of some of the large cities,
that it is proper to report to you
my doings in connection Herewith.
Let me say here that never, as has been
so much asserted in the press, confOunded
socialism with anarchy. l draw wide
line of distinction between the two, as
every reading, thinking man must. will
ask of the general assembly to define the
position of the order ON the attempts that
have been made to prostitute it to such base
uses as the anarchists would put it. l have
never publicly uttered a sentiment regard
ing the course of the seven men who are
condemned to death in Chicago. | will
now give my opinion. If these men did
not have fair trial, such as Is guaranteed
every man in the United States, then they
should be granted q new trial. If they
have not been found guilty of murder they
| should not be hanged. If they are to be
10 Of al ~ ia mot
| Just. The man who threw the bomb in
| Chicago should be hanged, and his accom-
| plices should receive the punishment allotted
| to such offences by the laws OF Illinois"
All letters relating to the anarchist sub
| iect are filed at length and the Denver
| question was given in full, and of the mat
ter Powderly said:
II regarded the whole affair as import
inent, rascally, and prompted by malice
or revenge. The resolution which should
pass, is one to demand that every ayowed
anarchist be Obliged TO withdraw from the
the order or be expelled. We have moth
ing to fear from trades unions, but every
thing to fear from the communicating infiu-
enee of men who preach destruction in the
name of our order, and who at the same
time assert they are socialists, while giving
the lie to every principle Of socialism when
they advocate violence of any kind.
Powderly devoted some time to explana-
ton Of his knowledge of the home club OF
New York, !" regarding which he said much
abuse and ridicule had been beaped upon
for the past two years in consequence of his
supposed connection with it. He quoted
voluminous correspondence, and related
incidentally the facts as known to him
of the attempt made to take his life
Referring to the resolution of the
last general assembly of expulsion o.
cigarmakers Mr.. Powderly treated at great
length The decision is carefully prepared
and expresses his belief that the resolution
is unconstitutional and Of no binding effect
except as a warning. Referring to hi
recommendation to members of the orde
J to celebrate the Fourth of July last, he sale
he did this on account of the many charge,
that had been made regarding the disregard
of the labor organizations for law and con
tempt for the flag and constitution
of the country. II did this that
the world might know the character o
the order and was not disappointed, fol
celebrations under the auspices of thu
Knights of Labor were held in over SOC
! places throughout the country" In hi.
: recommendations to the general assembly
Powderly says the day has come for tn,
Knights to ask at the hands of congress tn
> passage Of a law creating a department o
labor. The prosperity of the whole conntr,
rests upon the broad shoulders of labor,
and there is nothing now so permanently
!, before the nation and the world al
{ the question of labor. He recommend
, that steps be taken to have the next con
gress act on the bill to establish govern
= mental telegraph, to be run in connection
: with the postal service. believe W
: should go before the next congress askin
i for the passage of but one or two measures
They should be important ones, and tn
full strength of the organization should b
! behind those who made the demand.
1 believe, however, that nothing can b
o more important than the passage of law
: creating governmental telegraph and
: national department of labor" Powderl
' declares that to deal knowingly and intel
ligently with the questions in the declare
ton Of principles, the order should have
journal published under its control whic
; should reach every member. 1t shout
j have department especially devoted
the discussion of these very questions.
must make radical change
the methods of the education
! its members. The work of edueatio
Of the old and young is duty we shout
not attempt to put to one side. Referrir
! to the regulation of state, territorial, mike
and trade assemblies, he calls attention
: his plan published in the Journal of Sep
10. The adoption of the universal benef
plan is recommended. Referring
the charges that he was
member of the socialistic part
Powderly says that in 1880, PHILLIP
, Van Patten, national secretary of Il
: socialistic labor party, was member of ii
general executive board of the Knights
Labor. He sent PowderIy a red card